EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
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Accessories
User Replaceable Parts
Ink Cartridges
Media
printer cover
edge
guides
paper support
control
panel
output tray
extensions
output tray
thickness
lever
ink cartridge holders
(not removable)
ink cartridge
replacement button
roll paper adapter
left roll
paper
holder
roll paper
stopper
right roll
paper holder
uncurling sheet
roll paper
button
maintenance
button
power
button
printer
cover
support
Part name Reference number Part number
Printer cover 101 1050101
Printer cover support 110 1059610
Paper support assembly,
including rear paper
support
102 1043087
Logo plate B 115 1051170
Caution label 180 1061183
Model name label 181 1063221
Paper set label 182 1051405
Roll paper adapter 800 1059609
Left roll paper holder 801 1058169
Right roll paper holder 802 1058170
Roll paper stoppers 803 1058171
Uncurling sheet 805 1052356
Cartridge Part number
Black U.S.: T007201; Canada: T007311
Color U.S.: T009201; Canada: T009311
Media name Size Part number
EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet
Paper
Letter
A4
A3
Super B
S041060
S041258
S040165
S041066
EPSON High Quality Ink
Jet Paper
Letter S041111
EPSON Photo Quality
Ink Jet Paper
Letter
Legal
A3
A4
B
Super B
S041062
S041067
S041068
S041061
S041070
S041069
EPSON Photo Quality
Glossy Film
Letter
A6
A4
A3
B
Super B
S041072
S041107
S041071
S041073
S041075
S041074
EPSON Photo Paper Letter (20 sheets)*
Letter (100 sheets)*
Letter (500 sheets)*
4
×
6 inches (perforated)
4
×
6 inches (no perforations)*
Panoramic
A4
Roll (3.9 inches
×
26.2 ft)*
Roll (13 inches
×
32.8 ft)*
S041141
S041271
S041272
S041134
S041458
S041145
S041140
S041279
S041233
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
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EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
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* Supports true BorderFree
™
(borderless) printing
Printer Specifications
Printing
Printing method On-demand ink jet
Nozzle configuration
Black 48 nozzles
Color 240 nozzles (48 each: cyan, magenta,
yellow, light cyan, light magenta)
Resolution Maximum 2880 dpi
×
720 dpi
Print direction Bidirectional with logic seeking
Control code ESC/P Raster,
™
EPSON Remote
Input buffer 256KB
Interface USB or IEEE 1284-compatible parallel
Mechanical
Paper feed Friction
method
Paper path Sheet feeder, rear entry
Sheet feeder
capacity 100 sheets of 17 lb (64 g/m
2
) paper
Dimensions
Storage Width: 23.6 inches (609 mm)
Depth: 12.2 inches (311 mm)
Height: 6.9 inches (175 mm)
Printing Width: 23.6 inches (609 mm)
Depth: 30.2 inches (766 mm)
Height: 16.3 inches (414 mm)
Weight 18.5 lb (8.4 kg) without the ink cartridges
Acoustic noise 42 dB
Electrical
* Check the label on the back of the printer for your printer’s
voltage.
EPSON Ink Jet
Transparencies
Letter
A4
S041064
S041063
EPSON Photo Quality
Ink Jet Cards
A6 S041054
EPSON Photo Stickers
Kit (CD-ROM and
paper)
EPSON Photo Stickers
(refill, paper only)
A6, 16 frames per sheet
A6, 16 frames per sheet
S041144-KIT
S041144
EPSON Iron-On Cool
Peel Transfer Paper
Letter (10 sheets)
Letter (50 sheets)
S041153
S041155
EPSON Photo Quality
Self Adhesive Sheets
A4 S041106
Matte Paper -
Heavyweight
Letter*
A4
8
×
10 inches*
11
×
14 inches*
S041257
S041258
S041467
S041468
EPSON Premium
Glossy Photo Paper
Letter*
5
×
7 inches*
A4
8
×
10 inches*
11
×
14 inches*
Roll (3.9 inches
×
26.2 feet)*
Roll (8.3 inches
×
26.2 feet)
Roll (13 inches
×
32.8 feet)*
S041286
S041464
S041285
S041465
S041466
S041302
S041376
S041378
EPSON Premium
Semigloss Photo Paper
Letter*
Super B
A4
Roll (3.9 inches
×
26.2 feet)*
S041286
S041327
S041332
S041329
EPSON Premium
Luster Photo Paper
Letter*
A3
Super B
Roll (8.3 inches
×
26.2 feet)
Super B Roll (13 inches
×
32.8
feet)*
S041405
S041406
S041407
S041408
S041409
EPSON Glossy Photo
Greeting Cards
Letter* S041267
Media name Size Part number
Specification 120 V Model 220−240 V Model
Input voltage
range*
99 to 132 V 198 to 264 V
Rated frequency
range
50 to 60 Hz
Input frequency
range
49.5 to 60.5 Hz
Rated current 0.4 A 0.2 A
Power consumption Approx. 15 W (ISO/IEC 10561 Letter Pattern)
Approx. 3 W in standby mode
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
- 3
Environmental
Temperature
Operation 50 to 95 °F (10 to 35 °C)
Storage*
−4 to 104 °F (−20 to 40 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
Transit* –4 to 140 °F (–20 to 60 °C)
120 hours at 140 °F (60 °C)
Humidity (without condensation)
Operation 20 to 80% RH
Storage* 5 to 85% RH
*Stored in shipping container
Safety Approvals
Safety standards UL 1950, CSA C22.2 No. 950
EMC FCC part 15 subpart B class B
Ink Cartridges
* The figure given is based on continuous printing after ink
replacement. The actual print capacity may vary, depending on
how often you turn on the printer and clean the print head.
** Ink thaws and is usable after approximately 3 hours at
77 °F (25 °C).
To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON cartridges
and do not refill them. Other products may cause
damage to your printer not covered by EPSON’s
warranties.
Don’t use an ink cartridge if the date on the package has
expired.
Specification
Black ink cartridge
(T007201)
Color ink cartridge
(T009201)
Color(s) Black Cyan, Magenta, Yellow,
Light Cyan, Light Magenta
Print capacity* 540 pages (3.5% ECMA at
360 dpi, 370 pages 5% in
calculation)
330 pages (5% each color
CcMmY [total 25%] in
calculation)
Cartridge life 2 years from production date (if unopened)
(within 6 months after opening package, at 77 °F
[25 °C])
Storage
temperature
−
4 to 104 °F (
−
20 to 40 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
Transit
temperature
−
22 to 140 °F (
−
30 to 60 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
120 hours at 140 °F (60 °C)
Freezing
temperature**
3.2 °F (
−
16 °C)
−0
.4 °F (
−
18 °C)
Dimensions
(W
×
D
×
H)
0.8
×
2.6
×
1.5 inches
20.1
×
66.85
×
38.5 mm
1.9
×
3.3
×
1.6 inches
49.1
×
84.05
×
41.8 mm
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
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EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
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Paper
Note:
Always load paper into the sheet feeder short edge first, except for
envelopes. Load envelopes flap edge first with the flap side down.
Since the quality of any particular brand or type of paper may be
changed by the manufacturer at any time, EPSON cannot attest to
the quality of any non-EPSON brand or type of paper. Always test
samples of paper stock before purchasing large quantities or printing
large jobs.
Poor quality paper may reduce print quality and cause paper jams and
other problems. If you encounter problems, switch to a higher grade
of paper. Do not load curled or folded paper.
Use papers under these conditions:
Temperature: 59 to 77 °F (15 to 25 °C)
Humidity: 40 to 60% RH
Store printouts on EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film and Self
Adhesive Sheets under these conditions:
Temperature: 59 to 86 °F (15 to 30 °C)
Humidity: 20 to 60% RH
Paper type Size Paper types Thickness Weight
Single sheets Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
Legal (8.5 × 14 inches)
Half letter (statement, 5.5 × 8.5 inches)
Executive (7.5 × 10 inches)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
A5 (148 × 210 mm)
A3 (297 × 420 mm)
B (11 × 17 inches)
Super B (13 × 19 inches)
Plain bond paper and special ink
jet papers distributed by EPSON
0.003 to 0.004 inch
(0.08 to 0.11 mm)
for plain bond
paper
17 to 24 lb
(64 to 90 g/m
2
)
for plain bond
paper
Transparencies and Photo
Quality Glossy Film
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
A3 (297 × 420 mm)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
A6 (105 × 148 mm), glossy film only
B (11 × 17 inches), glossy film only
Super B (13 × 19 inches), glossy film only
Transparencies and
glossy film distributed by EPSON
——
Premium Glossy Photo
Paper
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
5 × 7 inches
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
8 × 10 inches
11 × 14 inches
Roll (3.9 inches × 26.2 feet)
Roll (8.3 inches × 26.2 feet)
Roll (13 inches × 32.8 feet)
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
distributed by EPSON
——
Matte Paper -
Heavyweight
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
8 × 10 inches
11 × 14 inches
Matte paper distributed by
EPSON
——
Self-adhesive sheets A4 (210 × 297 mm) EPSON Self-adhesive sheets — —
Envelopes No. 10, 4.1 × 9.5 inches (104 × 241 mm)
DL, 4.3 × 8.7 inches (110 × 220 mm)
C6, 4.4 × 6.4 inches (114 × 162 mm)
132 × 220 mm (5.2 × 8.7 inches)
Plain, bond, or air mail paper 0.006 to 0.02 inch
(0.16 to 0.52 mm)
12 to 20 lb
(45 to 75 g/m
2
)
Index (ink jet) cards A6 (105 × 148 mm) Ink jet cards distributed by EPSON — —
Photo Paper Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
4 × 6 inches (102 × 152 mm)
Panoramic (8.3 × 23.4 inches)
Roll (3.9 inches × 26.2 feet)
Roll (13 inches × 32.8 ft)
Photo paper distributed by EPSON — —
Photo Stickers A6 (105 × 148 mm), 16 frames/sheet Photo stickers distributed by
EPSON
——
Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer
Paper
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) Transfer paper distributed by
EPSON
——
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
- 5
Printable area
A: For envelopes, index cards, and sheets printed with
borders, the minimum top margin is 0.12 inch
(3.0 mm).
B-L: The minimum left margin for envelopes, index cards,
and sheets printed with borders is 0.12 inch
(3.0 mm).
B-R: The minimum right margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm) for
index cards and single sheets with borders; 0.28 inch
(7.0 mm) for DL envelopes; 1.10 inch (28.0 mm) for
No. 10 envelopes.
C: The minimum bottom margin for envelopes, index
cards, and single sheets with borders is 0.55 inch
(14.0 mm).
* You can reduce the minimum bottom margin to
0.12 inch (3.0 mm) by selecting Maximum as the
Printable Area setting. However, print quality may
decline or ink may smear in the expanded area, depending
on the media. Before printing large jobs,
print a single sheet to confirm print quality.
.
A: The maximum top margin is 0.24 inch (6.1 mm).
L & R: The maximum left and right margin is 0.24 inch
(6.1 mm). The minimum left and right margin is
0.12 inch (3.0 mm).
C: The maximum bottom margin is 0.67 inch
(17.0 mm).
* EPSON 4 × 6-inch Photo Paper (perforated) is
4.5 × 6.9 inches (114 × 175 mm), including the
perforated margins. The printable area is 4 × 6 inches
(102 × 152 mm).
Control Panel
A
B-L B-R
C
A
B-L B-R
C
single sheets/index cards
envelopes
borderless single sheets
A
L & R
C
EPSON 4
×
6-inch Photo Paper* with perforations
(dotted lines indicate perforations)
(Paper is loaded in the
opposite direction.)
power
button
maintenance button
power light
maintenance light
roll paper
button
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
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EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01
The following table explains the control panel lights:
Installing an Ink Cartridge for the First
Time
Follow these ink cartridge precautions and the others in
the Printer Basics book:
❏ Install both ink cartridges, and leave them installed for
all types of printing, or the printer won’t work.
❏ Remove the yellow tape seal from the top of the ink
cartridges or you’ll permanently damage them. Don’t
remove the clear seals on the bottom or ink will leak
out.
❏ Don’t touch the green chip on the back of the
cartridge. This may inhibit normal operation and
printing.
❏ Never turn off the printer when the
P
power light is
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made any
noise for more than five minutes.
Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children and
do not drink the ink.
If ink gets on your skin, wash the area thoroughly with
soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
1. Plug the printer into an electrical outlet and turn it on. The
ink cartridges move into the loading position.
If the ink cartridges fail to move to the loading position,
press the ink cartridge replacement button, shown below.
2. Lower the output tray and open the cover.
P
is on or
flashes
The
P
power light is on when the printer is on and
ready to print. It flashes when the printer is
receiving a print job, charging ink, or cleaning the
print head. It also flashes when the print head
moves to the ink cartridge replacement position
b
is on and
P
flashes
When the
b
maintenance light comes on and the
P
power light flashes, paper is out or loaded
incorrectly, or you have a paper jam.
If paper is out or loaded incorrectly, load or reload
your paper. Then press the
b
maintenance button
to turn off the
b
maintenance light and resume
printing. (If you’re printing on roll paper, press the
b
maintenance button to turn off the
b
maintenance light, and then press the
z
roll paper
button to resume printing.)
If paper is jammed, do one of the following:
❏ If you’re printing on any type of media but roll
paper, press the
b
maintenance button to try
to clear the jam. If that doesn’t work, turn off
the printer and gently pull the paper forward
(toward the output tray) to pull it out. Then turn
on the printer and press the
b
maintenance
button to turn off the
b
maintenance light and
resume printing.
❏ If you’re printing on roll paper, press the
z
roll
paper button for at least three seconds to clear
the jam. (You may have to repeat this step
more than once to back the paper out
completely.) If that doesn’t work, turn the
printer off and trim the roll at a point a few
inches after it exits the printer. Gently pull the
roll backward, taking care not to force the
printer mechanism.
P
and
b
flash When both the lights flash, one of the ink
cartridges is low on ink. To find out which one, do
the following:
Windows: Check the ink level graphic in the
printer software.
Macintosh: Check the EPSON Monitor 3
utility.
Then replace the ink cartridge as described on page 8.
b
and
P
are
on
When both lights are on, one of the ink cartridges
is out of ink. Determine which cartridge is empty
by checking the ink level graphic in the printer
software (Windows) or the EPSON Monitor 3
utility (Macintosh). Then replace the cartridge as
described on page 8. If both lights come on after
you’ve replaced a cartridge, you may have installed
a cartridge your printer can’t use.
b
is on and
P
is off
Jammed paper may be blocking movement of the
print head, or you may have an internal error. Turn
off the printer, open the cover, and check for any
jammed paper. Also, make sure you removed all
the packing material, as described on the Start
Here poster. Then turn the printer back on.
P
and
b
are
off
When both lights are off, the printer is not receiving
power. Try these solutions:
❏
Make sure the printer is turned on.
❏
Turn off the printer, plug in the power cord
securely, and turn on the printer again.
❏
Make sure the outlet is working and is not
controlled by a switch or timer.
Ink cartridge
replacement
button
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
- 7
3. Lift up the two ink cartridge clamps.
4. Unwrap the ink cartridges, then remove only the yellow
part of the tape seal on top. Don’t pull off the blue part.
5. As you face the printer, tilt each cartridge forward (toward
you) slightly as you lower it into its holder. Position the tabs
at the back of the cartridge on top of the hooks on the
holder clamps.
Don’t place the cartridges under the holder clamp; you
may damage the clamp when you close it.
6. Close the ink cartridge clamps. (You need to press the color
clamp a little more firmly.)
7. Press the ink cartridge replacement button (shown in step 2)
and close the printer cover.
Ink charging takes about two minutes, with the
P power light
flashing and the printer making noise until it’s finished. Don’t
turn off the printer or interrupt charging or it will start over,
using more ink than necessary. It’s finished when the
P power
light stops flashing.
Testing the Printer
You can run a printer check to determine whether a problem
comes from the printer itself or some other source. Follow
these steps to run the printer check:
1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.
2. Disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. Make sure letter-size or larger paper is loaded in the printer.
4. Hold down the
b maintenance button, then press and
release the
Ppower button. Continue holding down the
b maintenance button until the
Ppower light starts to
flash, then release it.
The printer prints one page showing its ROM version
number, ink counter, and a nozzle check pattern. Only the
nozzle check pattern is shown below. (If the pattern has
gaps in its dots, you need to clean the print head; see
page 10.)
5. To end the check, turn off the printer after it prints the
check page. Then reconnect the interface cable and turn on
your printer and computer.
If the check page prints, the problem probably lies in your
software settings, the interface cable, or your computer.
If the check page doesn’t print, you may have a problem with
your printer.
Try the suggestions in “Problems and Solutions” in the Printer
Basics book.
Black ink
cartridge
Color ink
cartridge
Don’t touch the
green chips
tabs
hooks
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
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EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01
Printing on Special Media
Follow the guidelines in the table below when selecting the
Media Type setting for your paper:
Additional Media Loading Guidelines
Don’t use the cleaning sheets that may be included with
your special media; they may damage the printer.
❏ Be sure to load the printable (whiter) side of the media face
up in the sheet feeder.
❏ You can load paper up to the arrow mark on the left edge
guide.
❏ In addition to the
Media Type option, remember to select
the correct
Paper Size for your media in the printer
software.
❏ If the special media has protective sheets between each sheet
of media, be sure to remove the protective sheets before
printing.
❏ Some special media have a cut corner that you need to
position correctly; follow any instructions in the package.
Always handle sheets by the edges, and don’t touch the
printable surface.
Replacing an Ink Cartridge
When the
b maintenance and
P power lights are both
flashing, one of your ink cartridges is low on ink. This is a
good time to make sure you have a new cartridge. When both
lights stay on, a cartridge is empty and you need to replace it.
When an installed ink cartridge is more than six months old,
you may also need to replace it if you notice that your
printouts don’t look as good as they used to. If print quality
doesn’t improve after cleaning and aligning the print head,
you can replace the cartridge even if the
b maintenance and
P power lights aren’t flashing.
To check the level of ink you have left, see the graphic in the
printer driver (Windows) or click the ink level icon in the
printer driver or EPSON Monitor 3 utility (Macintosh).
You can also check the flash pattern of the control panel lights
to determine which cartridge is low or empty. Press the ink
cartridge replacement button. If the
P power and
b
maintenance lights flash at the same speed, replace the black
cartridge. If the
b maintenance light flashes twice as fast as
the
P power light, replace the color cartridge.
You cannot print if either ink cartridge is empty. Leave
the empty cartridge installed in the printer until you have
obtained a replacement. Otherwise the ink remaining in
the print head nozzles may dry out.
Use these EPSON ink cartridges within six months of
installing them and before the expiration date on the package:
❏ Black ink cartridge: T007201
❏ Color ink cartridge: T009201
To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON ink
cartridges and do not refill them. Other products may
cause damage to your printer not covered by EPSON’s
warranty.
When you need new ink cartridges, contact your dealer or call
the EPSON Store
™
at (800) 873-7766 or visit the EPSON
Store at www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada,
please call (800) 873-7766 for dealer referral.
Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once
you start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, you must
complete all the steps in one session.
Follow these steps to replace ink cartridges:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing (the
Ppower light should be on, but not flashing).
For this paper name...
Select this Media Type
setting
Plain paper and envelopes Plain paper
EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper
EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper
360 dpi Ink Jet Paper
EPSON High Quality Ink Jet Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards
EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive
Sheets
Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
EPSON Matte Paper - Heavyweight Matte Paper - Heavyweight
EPSON Photo Paper Photo Paper
EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper
EPSON Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
EPSON Premium Luster Photo Paper
Premium Glossy Photo
Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film
EPSON Photo Stickers
Photo Quality Glossy Film
EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies Ink Jet Transparencies
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film
EPSON Photo Stickers
Photo Quality Glossy Film
EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies Ink Jet Transparencies
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
- 9
2. Open the printer cover and press the yellow ink cartridge
replacement button. The print head moves left and the
Ppower light begins flashing.
To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print
head by hand.
3. The color cartridge is on the right and the black cartridge is
on the left. Pull up the ink cartridge clamp all the way. The
cartridge rises up from its holder.
4. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it
carefully.
Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children and
do not drink the ink.
If ink gets on your skin, wash the area thoroughly with
soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
5. Unwrap the new ink cartridge, then remove only the yellow
part of the tape seal on top. Don’t pull off the blue part.
You must remove the yellow tape from the top of the
cartridge or you will permanently damage it. Don’t pull
off the blue portion or try to remove the clear seal
underneath the cartridge.
Don’t touch the green circuit board on the back of the
cartridge; you may inhibit normal operation and printing.
6. As you face the printer, tilt the ink cartridge forward
(toward you) slightly as you lower it into its holder.
Position the tabs at the back of the cartridge on top of the
hooks on the holder clamps.
Don’t place the cartridge tabs under the hooks on the
holder clamp; you may damage the clamp when you
close it.
Ink cartridge
replacement
button
Black ink
cartridge
Color ink
cartridge
Don’t touch the
green chips
tabs
hooks
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
10 -
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01
7. Press down on the ink cartridge clamp until it locks in
place. (You may have to press a little more firmly on the
color clamp.)
8. If you need to replace the other ink cartridge, repeat steps 3
through 7 before continuing with step 9.
9. Press the ink cartridge replacement button and close the
printer cover. The printer moves the print head and begins
charging the ink delivery system.
The
Ppower light flashes, and the printer makes noise.
Charging takes about one minute. When it’s finished, the
Ppower light stops flashing and stays on.
Never turn off the printer while the
P
power light is
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise
for more than 5 minutes.
Cleaning the Print Head
If your printed image is unexpectedly light or faint, or dots are
missing from the image, you may need to clean the print head.
This unclogs the nozzles so they can deliver ink properly.
Cleaning the print head uses ink, so clean it only if print
quality declines. You can clean the print head in either of the
following ways:
❏ Using the Head Cleaning utility (when the printer is
connected to a local port, not over a network)
❏ Using the printer’s control panel buttons
When you don’t turn on your printer for a long time, the
print quality can decline. It’s a good idea to turn on your
printer at least once a month to maintain good print
quality.
Using the Head Cleaning Utility
Follow these steps to run the Head Cleaning utility
(recommended method):
1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the
b maintenance light is off. (You can’t clean the print head
if the
b maintenance light is flashing or on. Replace the
appropriate ink cartridge instead.)
2. If you have an application running, access the printer
settings dialog box.
Or, with Windows, click
Start, point to Settings, then
select
Printers. Right-click your EPSON Stylus Photo
1280
printer icon in the Printers window. Then select
Properties (Document Defaults in Windows NT).
3. Windows: Click the
Utility tab.
Macintosh: Click the Utility button.
4. On the Utility menu, click the
Head Cleaning button.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to clean the print
head. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the
printer makes some noise and the
Ppower light flashes.
Never turn off the printer while the
P
power light is
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise
for more than 5 minutes.
6. When the
Ppower light stops flashing, run a nozzle check
to confirm the print head nozzles are clean.
Make sure paper is loaded in the printer and click
Print
nozzle check pattern
(Windows) or Confirmation
(Macintosh). Then click
Next. The nozzle check pattern
prints. (See page 11 for details.).
7. If the nozzle check pattern has no gaps in its dots, click
Finish.
If the pattern is missing dots, click
Clean to clean the print
head again. If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning
three or four times, check the solutions in the Printer Basics
book. You can also turn the printer off and wait
overnight—this allows any dried ink to soften—and then
try cleaning the print head again.
Using the Control Panel to Clean the Print
Head
Follow these steps to clean the print head:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the
b maintenance light is off. (If the
b maintenance light is
on or flashing, replace the appropriate ink cartridge
instead.)
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
- 11
2. Press the
b maintenance button and hold it down for three
seconds. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the
printer makes some noise and the
Ppower light flashes.
Never turn off the printer while the
P
power light is
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise
for more than 5 minutes.
3. After the
Ppower light stops flashing, do one of the
following:
If your printer is connected directly to the computer, go
to step 4 to run a nozzle check.
If you’re printing over a network, open an application and
print a short document containing black and color data.
Check the quality of your printout, then go to step 8.
4. If you have an application running, access the printer
settings dialog box.
Or, with Windows, click
Start, point to Settings, then
select
Printers. Right-click your EPSON Stylus Photo
1280
printer icon in the Printers window. Then select
Properties (Document Defaults in Windows NT).
5. Windows: Click the
Utility tab.
Macintosh: Click the Utility button.
6. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer, click the
Nozzle
Check
button, and click Next. The nozzle check pattern
prints. (See the next section for details.)
7. If the nozzle check pattern has no gaps in its dots, click
Finish.
If the pattern is missing dots, click
Clean to clean the print
head again.
8. If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning three or
four times, check the solutions in the Printer Basics book.
You can also turn the printer off and wait overnight—this
allows any dried ink to soften—and then try cleaning the
print head again.
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern
Examine the nozzle check pattern you print. It should look
something like this:
Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be
complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If your printout
looks okay, you’re done. If any dots are missing, as shown
below, clean the print head again; see page 10 for instructions.
Aligning the Print Head
If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, you may
need to align the print head. Your printer must be connected
to a local port, not on a network, to use the Print Head
Alignment utility. Follow these steps:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and
letter-size paper is loaded.
Load letter or A4-size paper to print the entire
bidirectional pattern.
For the best results, load EPSON ink jet paper in the
printer whenever you check the print head alignment.
2. If you have an application running, access the printer
settings dialog box.
Or, with Windows, click
Start, point to Settings, then
select
Printers. Right-click the EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
icon in the Printers window. Select
Properties (Document
Defaults
in Windows NT).
3. Windows: Click the
Utility tab.
Macintosh: Click the Utility button.
4. You see the Utility menu. Click the
Print Head Alignment
button.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to print a test page.
6. Select the best line from the first group of lines on the
printout, then enter its number in box #1 on screen. Select
the line with the cleanest, straightest edges. Then choose the
best line in the second group and enter its number in box #2
on screen.
missing dots
missing dots
missing dots
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
12 -
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
1/01
7. If you want to check the results, click
Realignment to print
another test page. Make sure the middle line (numbered 8)
in each group is the best. If it isn’t, you may need to repeat
step 6 more than once to align your print head completely.
8. Click
Next and follow the instructions on the screen to
print two columns of boxes.
9. Select the box with the least grainy appearance (smoothest
gray) from the first column, then enter its number in box #1
on screen. Then choose the best box from the second
column and enter its number in box #2 on screen.
10. If you want to check the results, click
Realignment to
reprint the boxes. Make sure the middle box (numbered 5)
in each column is the best. If it isn’t, you may need to repeat
step 9 more than once.
11. When done, click
Finish.
Cleaning the Printer
To keep your printer working at its best, you should clean it
several times a year. Follow these steps:
1. Turn off the printer and wait for the
Ppower light to go
out.
2. Unplug the power cord and disconnect the printer cable.
3. Remove all the paper from the sheet feeder.
4. Clean the exterior of the printer with a soft, damp cloth.
Don’t touch the gears inside the printer.
Never use a hard or abrasive brush, or alcohol or thinner
for cleaning; they can damage the printer components
and case.
Don’t get water on the printer components and don’t
spray lubricants or oils inside the printer.
Transporting the Printer
If you move your printer some distance, you need to prepare it
for transportation in its original box or one of a similar size.
To avoid damage, always leave the ink cartridges
installed when transporting the printer.
Be sure to remove the tape used in step 4 after installing
the printer in its new location.
Follow these steps:
1. Turn on the printer, wait until the print head locks in the
far right position, then turn off the printer.
2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet. Then
disconnect the printer cable from the printer.
3. Remove any paper from the printer and remove the paper
support.
4. Open the printer cover. Secure the ink cartridge holder to
the printer with tape as shown, then close the printer cover.
5. Push in the output tray extensions and close the tray.
6. Repack the printer and attachments in the original box
using the protective materials that came with it. See the
Start Here poster for details.
Be sure to keep the printer level as you transport it.
After transporting the printer, remove the tape securing the
print head and test your printer. If you notice a decline in
print quality, clean the print head (see page 10); if output is
misaligned, align the print head (see page 11).
Related Documentation
TM-890/1280 EPSON Stylus Photo 890/1280 Service
Manual
PL-SP1280 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280 Parts Price
List
CPD-11716 EPSON Stylus Photo 890/1280 Printer
Basics
CPD-11717 EPSON Stylus Photo 890/1280 Start Here
CPD-11718 EPSON Stylus Photo 1280 printer
software CD-ROM
Tape the ink cartridge holder
to the printer case
/